Mehnificent

Let Me Make You a Martyr is one of those films that arrives with so much sulfurous promise it almost dares you not to be excited. An indie southern-gothic revenge tale with Marilyn Manson putatively playing an assassination angel named Pope? That’s the kind of casting stroke that wakes up even the most jaded cinephile. On paper, it's a ready-made baroque: broken family loyalties, incestuous chemistry, violence steeped in religious delirium, Sons of Anarchy but with the lights turned down and the metaphysics dialed up.

There’s a peculiar, illicit pleasure in witnessing a horror film that doesn’t bother appeasing the grown-up urge for context, or even moral justification, a film that simply wants to stalk you, amuse itself, and then gut you, all while wearing a fixed rictus grin. "Terrifier" announces itself with the blank-eyed mirth of Art the Clown: a creation not born so much from the tradition of slasher villains as from the very tactics of a mean-spirited magician. There is no myth, no tragic back-story, the movie barely bothers with plot at all, but dances with the sharp, ecstatic purity of a bad dream that keeps plunging into new depths.

Despite the mixed reviews circulating online, I couldn't ignore the allure of “Criminal.” Critics have noted a disjointed plot and uneven character development, with some expressing disappointment in how the film utilizes its talented cast.

"Ben-Hur," directed by Timur Bekmambetov, is a vibrant reimagining of the classic story that has captivated audiences for generations. While it may not quite reach the legendary heights of some of its predecessors, this 2016 adaptation offers a compelling experience filled with stunning visuals and thrilling moments.